Zambrano mechanics tweaks for 5/15

[kroth1342]

According to Cubs.com, Zambrano will be showing off some mechanical adjustments he made in between starts.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070515&content_id=1965631&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

According to Piniella:

 

"What I saw basically was him shortening his arc a little bit and staying closed a little longer, which makes things more compact," Piniella said. "That makes him a more aggressive pitcher. When a pitcher is a little long, as a hitter, you get a longer look at the ball. It makes it easier to see the pitch."

[C.C.]

This should be interesting...

[VicCub]

the mets broadcasters think Z is shortarming his pitches. I dunno, maybe they are right.

[Rusch33]

Looks to be working so far.

[Soriano12]

Mets don't have the best plate approach tonitght.

[Omar]

Mets don't have the best plate approach tonitght.

 

Really... How?

[AlwaysaCub]

He was good about his mechanics most of the time...the two times he seemed to revert where after the Green double and the Green homer. So I think when he gets angry, he loses himself, but we knew that. So the onus is on the catcher to keep him calm this season.

[texascub]

He's got better control with his new mechanics, but it seems like it's gonna take some time for him to regain his usual stuff. There were times that he flashed the nasty pitches of the past, but for the most part his pitches seems pretty flat tonight.

[CubinNY]

He was good about his mechanics most of the time...the two times he seemed to revert where after the Green double and the Green homer. So I think when he gets angry, he loses himself, but we knew that. So the onus is on the catcher to keep him calm this season.

 

I didn't watch the game, but I totally agree with your assessment of Zambrano. I'm not usually a "get into the head" type of guy. But you can almost see it happen with Z. He gets pissed gets the ball back from the catcher and slings it in there. He usually does this type of stuff for the better part of an inning after something bad happens. He loses all focus.

 

If I were Lou I would tell Barrett to talk to Z every time something bad happens, if for no other reason then to slow him down a bit.

[TruffleShuffle]

He was good about his mechanics most of the time...the two times he seemed to revert where after the Green double and the Green homer. So I think when he gets angry, he loses himself, but we knew that. So the onus is on the catcher to keep him calm this season.

 

I didn't watch the game, but I totally agree with your assessment of Zambrano. I'm not usually a "get into the head" type of guy. But you can almost see it happen with Z. He gets pissed gets the ball back from the catcher and slings it in there. He usually does this type of stuff for the better part of an inning after something bad happens. He loses all focus.

 

Really, is this behavior of a guy who deserves $15M+ per year? He's been a major league pitcher for five years now. Grow up and learn how to handle a little adversity.

[C.C.]

He was good about his mechanics most of the time...the two times he seemed to revert where after the Green double and the Green homer. So I think when he gets angry, he loses himself, but we knew that. So the onus is on the catcher to keep him calm this season.

 

I didn't watch the game, but I totally agree with your assessment of Zambrano. I'm not usually a "get into the head" type of guy. But you can almost see it happen with Z. He gets pissed gets the ball back from the catcher and slings it in there. He usually does this type of stuff for the better part of an inning after something bad happens. He loses all focus.

 

Really, is this behavior of a guy who deserves $15M+ per year? He's been a major league pitcher for five years now. Grow up and learn how to handle a little adversity.

 

Agreed. Enough baby sitting this guy. Just pitch.

[rynefan]

Exactly. Why did he let Green's homer get to him so much? Green is a good hitter, and he's doing what he's paid to do. Z has to keep it in perspective.

[jersey cubs fan]

He was good about his mechanics most of the time...the two times he seemed to revert where after the Green double and the Green homer. So I think when he gets angry, he loses himself, but we knew that. So the onus is on the catcher to keep him calm this season.

 

I didn't watch the game, but I totally agree with your assessment of Zambrano. I'm not usually a "get into the head" type of guy. But you can almost see it happen with Z. He gets pissed gets the ball back from the catcher and slings it in there. He usually does this type of stuff for the better part of an inning after something bad happens. He loses all focus.

 

Really, is this behavior of a guy who deserves $15M+ per year? He's been a major league pitcher for five years now. Grow up and learn how to handle a little adversity.

 

Agreed. Enough baby sitting this guy. Just pitch.

 

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

[CubinNY]

 

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

I didn't see the game, but the brief highlights I saw of Z pitching he was comming straight over the top in almost an exaggerated motion.

 

I've also not seen the drop in velocity. What did the gun have him at?

[jersey cubs fan]

 

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

I didn't see the game, but the brief highlights I saw of Z pitching he was comming straight over the top in almost an exaggerated motion.

 

I've also not seen the drop in velocity. What did the gun have him at?

 

SNY had him throwing 87-88 in the first. I DVRd from the 2nd on and watched later, slowing on occasion to see him pitch. I saw much of the same stuff I'd seen before. Yes, he was throwing over the top, but not all the time. And it was hardly just a case of him reverting when he got rattled. Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez sure didn't like the looks of his mechanics, although they seemed to agree that he improved as the game went along.

[mul21]

 

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

I didn't see the game, but the brief highlights I saw of Z pitching he was comming straight over the top in almost an exaggerated motion.

 

I've also not seen the drop in velocity. What did the gun have him at?

 

SNY had him throwing 87-88 in the first. I DVRd from the 2nd on and watched later, slowing on occasion to see him pitch. I saw much of the same stuff I'd seen before. Yes, he was throwing over the top, but not all the time. And it was hardly just a case of him reverting when he got rattled. Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez sure didn't like the looks of his mechanics, although they seemed to agree that he improved as the game went along.

 

He was regularly hitting 93-94 on the SNY gun later in the game and I saw a couple run up there at 95-96 so his velocity was not an issue last night. Control on those faster pitches wasn't always great, but at least he was getting it up there with some gas on it again.

[C.C.]

 

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

I didn't see the game, but the brief highlights I saw of Z pitching he was comming straight over the top in almost an exaggerated motion.

 

I've also not seen the drop in velocity. What did the gun have him at?

 

SNY had him throwing 87-88 in the first. I DVRd from the 2nd on and watched later, slowing on occasion to see him pitch. I saw much of the same stuff I'd seen before. Yes, he was throwing over the top, but not all the time. And it was hardly just a case of him reverting when he got rattled. Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez sure didn't like the looks of his mechanics, although they seemed to agree that he improved as the game went along.

 

It also had Maine throwing throwing in the mid to high 80's also. Perhaps the gun was slow in the 1st?

[RichHillIsABeast]

Z really didn't pitch that well last night. There were several balls that were crushed (two by Green) and it's a miracle Z only ended up with 1 ER. 3BB and 3K is not good.

 

His new mechanical changes looked goofy and I don't think the movement was there. There's staying on top of the ball, and there's being ridiculous and completely elevating your arm slot.

[C.C.]

Z really didn't pitch that well last night. There were several balls that were crushed (two by Green) and it's a miracle Z only ended up with 1 ER. 3BB and 3K is not good.

 

His new mechanical changes looked goofy and I don't think the movement was there. There's staying on top of the ball, and there's being ridiculous and completely elevating your arm slot.

 

althought in the 7th I noticed a ton of movement on his pitches. But I agree his mechanics looks messed up.

[SouthSideRyan]

Exactly. Why did he let Green's homer get to him so much? Green is a good hitter, and he's doing what he's paid to do. Z has to keep it in perspective.

 

Yeah he really got slaughtered after that Green HR.

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

Have you not watched him in other games? Like last year when he acted like a four year old against the Cardinals? For a guy who's been in the league five years, he really doesn't deal well with adversity

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

Have you not watched him in other games? Like last year when he acted like a four year old against the Cardinals? For a guy who's been in the league five years, he really doesn't deal well with adversity

 

Yes, I've seen him act weird. I just disagree that its his emotions that cause him to struggle. It's his inconstency that causes him to struggle. He's always emotional. Blaming it on his maturity is just a convenient answer, but it doesn't appear to be the least bit accurate when you seem him pitch well and emotional.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't understand where this is coming from. People just keep repeating that he lets his emotions get the best of him and unravels, but that surely didn't happen last night. And it's really not what happens to him in most games. He once again started the game with a weird short-arm sidearm delivery, terrible mechanics and low velocity. And he was inconsistent throughout the game. Most of the contact went to gloves, however, so it worked out alright.

 

Have you not watched him in other games? Like last year when he acted like a four year old against the Cardinals? For a guy who's been in the league five years, he really doesn't deal well with adversity

 

Which game? Z gave up 2 runs in every game against St. Louis. He hasn't had a bad game against them since '04.

[Jon]

Z really didn't pitch that well last night. There were several balls that were crushed (two by Green) and it's a miracle Z only ended up with 1 ER. 3BB and 3K is not good.

 

His new mechanical changes looked goofy and I don't think the movement was there. There's staying on top of the ball, and there's being ridiculous and completely elevating your arm slot.

Two of the walks came in the 8th after he already should have been removed from the blowout. He gave up two very hard hit balls to Green, but all pitchers in most starts give up hard hit balls. Some are caught, some go foul, and some fall in. Yes he was fortunate to have one of those stay in the park, but even if it had gone out, that would've been two earned runs in eight innings. Nothing wrong with that at all.

 

And Carlos had a 16 to 4 GB/FB ratio. That's not just good. That's great. It's not like he was giving up rockets all night. He was quite effective.